Lesson 17: The Carbon-Oxygen Cycle

Welcome back to science! Today we will be playing a game that will help us understand the Carbon-Oxygen Cycle.

Click here to play the game!

Lesson 15: Spider Habitat Introduction

Welcome back to science! This blog post will introduce you to your new project. Over the next couple of weeks you will be designing a habitat that allows a spider to survive for multiple generations. We will be using a design process to guide us.

Your Challenge: Your challenge is to create a habitat that will allow a spider to survive for multiple generations. In other words, many generations of spiders should be able to live in your container after it is completely sealed.

Do you get how awesome this is? I mean awesome in every sense of the word. You and your team (on your own today) will need to figure out exactly what your spider's needs are and you'll somehow have to replicate that in your aquarium.

According to the design process, today is about identifying the problem and brainstorming.

Later this week, I'll put you in groups and you'll share your brainstorms and make some decisions about your habitat. Next week we are going on a trip to a local community garden where you'll begin the process of building your habitat.

Once your spider is in your habitat is sealed you'll make daily observations (test and evaluate). Over the course of this project you will have exactly two opportunities to redesign your habitat. That means that you'll open up your habitat and make adjustments based on the ideas you learn about ecosystems and the things you notice going on in your habitats.

The spider you will use is in the family Pholcidae. It is commonly referred to as the Common Cellar Spider. 

Your Task (in Notebook): Today you are going to do some research and brainstorm about your habitat. The most important thing is to include as much detail as possible. Don't leave anything out. In your notebook, we should see...

• A labeled illustration of your habitat
• A list of abiotic factors
• A list of biotic factors
• Questions you have

Good luck!

Lesson 14 - Post 5: This Week in Science (Carrying Capacity and Relationships)

Welcome back to science! Today, we will be blogging about what we DID and what we LEARNED this week.

Title your post: This Week in Science (Carrying Capacity and Relationships)

• Paragraph 1: What did you DO this week in science?
• Paragraph 2: What did you LEARN this week in science?
• Picture: Add the picture of your group's special card game relationships activity

COHORT 2
COHORT 3
COHORT 4
COHORT 5

Lesson 7: This Week in Science (Energy)

Today we will be blogging about what we did in science this week!

• Title: "This Week in Science: Energy Transfer"
• Paragraph 1: Write one paragraph (at least 5 sentences) about what you DID this week in science
• Paragraph 2: Write another paragraph (at least 5 sentences) about what you LEARNED this week in science. Be sure to include the VOCABULARY (producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, omnivore, herbivore, carnivore)!
• Picture: Last but not least, UPLOAD YOUR PICTURE of your Food Chain/Energy Pyramid to your blog post

PICTURES
Cohort 2
Cohort 3
Cohort 4
Cohort 5

Lesson 5: Food Chains

Hello students!  

Today we will be making food chains using our central animal and the biome it lives in.  You will also be learning the following vocabulary that comes along with it:

• Consumer: any organism that eats another organism.

• Producer: any organism that makes its own food.

• Primary Consumer: an organism that gets its energy from producers.

• Secondary Consumer: an organism that gets its energy from primary consumers.

• Tertiary Consumer: an organism that gets its energy from secondary consumers.

  
Now make a food chain using the organisms from your biome!

Lesson 4: This Week in Science (Biomes)

 Today we will be blogging about what we did in science this week!

• Title your blog post "My Fantasy Habitat"
• Write one paragraph (at least 5 sentences) about what you DID this week in science
• Write another paragraph (at least 5 sentences) about what you LEARNED this week in science
• Last but not least, upload the picture of your fantasy habitat to your blog post

To get onto your blog be sure to log into your New Design e-mail first!!

PICTURES

Cohort 2

Cohort 3

Cohort 4

Cohort 5

Thanks for a great week.
- Melissa and Alyssa

Lesson 3: Illustrate a Fantasy Habitat

Today you will draw your fantasy habitat based on the research you did yesterday.  Your illustration should include:

• Central Animal
• At least 5 abiotic factors
• At least 5 biotic factors
• A legend or key that lists the central animal, biotic factors and abiotic factors somewhere on the page (See Melissa and Alyssa's example)

When you are done, hand in your fantasy habitat to be scanned!!!!
*Please do not forget to put your NAME on your drawing. Thank you!

Tundra

Lesson 2: Biome Research

Welcome back to science! Today we will be researching the biomes in which our animals live.



Important Vocabulary:

* Biome- A large area with distinct features (ex/ plants and animals)
* Biotic- Living things
* Abiotic- Non-living things

Activity 1


Set up your notebook using the graphic organizer on the board.

* Write 2-3 bullet points per box


Use these links to research your biome:

* http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/biomes/biomes.html
* http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/ecosystems.htm
* http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.html